Self-adjusting garment

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a self-adjusting garment for lifting or lowering a wearer. It has three functionally necessary and sufficient elements, two weight bearing straps and a connecting isosceles trapezoidal fabric. These elements provide three self-adjusting openings for the legs and torso and a loop usable in combination with a lifting mean, such as a hook. In some embodiments, the connecting isosceles trapezoidal fabric has an opening usable for discharging bodily wastes. The self-adjusting garment accommodates and adapts to wide range of body sizes and shapes automatically. When suspended, the wearer&#39;s weight automatically secures and safely restrains the wearer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a self-adjusting garment, related to a safety harness, for lifting a wearer.

People wear many types of functional garments to perform diverse tasks or to meet hygienic needs, example include an apron for cooking, a diaper for babies, or various job-related uniforms.

A growing portion of our population requires help for lifting and transporting. Many elderly wheelchair-bound patients need to be repeatedly lifted and transported for numerous hospital visits. This task is often performed by caregivers who lift, transport, and drive the patients. Lifting an adult incapacitated person, whether out of a wheelchair and into a car or after a fall, can be nearly impossible for most caregivers. The present invention provides a garment with a built-in loop which can be utilized with a lifting hook to help caregivers grip and lift the patient in a secure and safe manner. The garment, also referred to herein as “Liaper”, can be combined with any simple lifting device comprising a hook or other attachment means.

Furthermore, the Liaper can be integrated as a component of any simple lifting or lowering device. For example, for residents of tall buildings in emergency situations such as fire, as long as the simple lifting or lowering device comprises a hook or other attachment means.

Currently, many safety harnesses/slings are commercially available from various medical equipment suppliers for the purpose of lifting patients. Most of these devices are very expensive as they are produced in small volumes and are labeled medical equipment. Also, the existing safety harnesses/slings are designed for use only with matching specific lifting devices. All other currently available patient holding/lifting sheets/boards have at least a pair, or more, openings for hands or hooks.

With an ever-increasing elderly population and wheelchair bound patients, we must find better patient lifting means, such as harnesses/slings/garments that can be used universally with a wide selection of patient lifting devices. The present invention provides such a garment and methods of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a self-adjusting garment for lifting or lowering the wearer. It has three functionally necessary and sufficient elements, two weight bearing straps connected by an isosceles trapezoidal fabric, which distributes and reduces the contact pressure on the wearer. The adjustable garment provides three adjustable openings for the legs and torso and a loop for a lifting hook or other attachment means. For a bed-ridden wearer, the connecting fabric provides an opening for discharging bodily wastes.

This self-adjusting garment accommodates and adapts to wide range of body sizes and shapes automatically upon use. When suspended with the use of the self-adjusting garment, the wearer's weight functions to hold and restrain the wearer safely in the self-adjusting garment. Yet, the self-adjusting garment allows free movements of the wearer upper body, both arms, and legs to move as desired while suspended.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a self-adjusting garment for holding and lifting a wearer, the self-adjusting garment is usable with a lifting/lowering device, the self-adjusting garment comprises: two weight bearing straps attached to an isosceles trapezoidal fabric.

In some embodiments, a first strap of the two weight bearing straps is attached along the non-parallel sides of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric and forms a loop comprising the unattached mid part of the first strap, the loop is proximal to the narrower parallel side of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric.

In some embodiments, a second strap of the two weight bearing straps is attached along the long parallel side of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric, a portion of the second strap remains unattached and forms a loop off the long parallel side of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric.

In some embodiments, the self-adjusting garment can be worn by a wearer wherein the second strap encircles the mid-body of the wearer and the wide portion of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric is positioned at the back side of the wearer while the narrow portion of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric passes in between the wearer legs and positioned in the front side of the wearer's body, a portion of the second strap's loop can then be inserted though the first strap's loop, thus forming a new loop. In some embodiments, the new loop may be used for a releasable attachment with an attachment mean of a lifting/lowering device.

In some embodiments, the isosceles trapezoidal fabric has one or more openings usable for discharge of bodily wastes of the wearer.

In some embodiments, the said one or more openings is a slit along the middle, length-wise, of said isosceles trapezoidal fabric.

In some embodiments, the said slit is resealable with a resealing mean selected from a zipper, or a hook and loop, wherein the resealing mean is attached to said isosceles trapezoidal fabric and surrounds the slit.

In some embodiments, the self-adjusting garment comprises a mean of releasably holding up the new loop when the wearer is not being lifted/lowered.

In some embodiments, the mean of releasably holding up the new loop is a safety pin attachable to the wearer's clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the self-adjusting garment in an operative, partially folded, form.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an unfolded self-adjusting garment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In both FIGS. 1 and 2., the self-adjusting garment 100 is illustrated comprising an isosceles trapezoidal fabric 10 which has a short side 11 parallel to a longer side 13, and two slanted sides 12 a and 12 b. A weight bearing strap 20 attaches along the sides 12 a and 12 b starting at the two sharp corners of both ends of side 13, and then forms a loop 21 comprising an unattached mid-part of the strap 20 off side 11. Another weight bearing strap 30 attaches along the long side 13 of the fabric 10. Preferably, the two ends of the weight bearing strap 30 start at mid-point, length-wise, of side 13 where they overlap, and from there extend in opposite directions along the side 13. At both ends of side 13 strap 30 overlaps with the ends of weight bearing strap 20. A portion of strap 30 remains unattached and forms a loop 16 off side 13.

FIG. 1 illustrates the self-adjusting garment 100 in a wearable position. When the self-adjusting garment 100 is worn by a user the strap 30 encircles the mid-body of the wearer and the wide portion of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric 10 is positioned at the back side of the wearer while the narrow portion of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric 10 is passed in between the wearer legs and positioned in the front side of the wearer's body. Consequently, a portion of loop 16 can be inserted though loop 21, and form a new loop 31 which may be used for example, by a lifting hook or by another attachment means. When the new loop is pulled, for example by the wearer or a care giver, the self-adjusting garment tightens around the wearer's body, and generally adjusts itself to the wearer's body. Preferably, the attachment of straps 20 and 30 to the isosceles trapezoidal fabric 10 is created with two substantially parallel, about ½″ apart, upholstery grade stitches along the edges of sides 12 a, 12 b and 13 of the fabric 10.

This simple arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 allows for three adjustable openings: 41 for the torso, and 42 a and 42 b for the legs. When the wearer is suspended utilizing loop 31, the wearer's weight automatically tightens the openings to hold and restrain the wearer within the self-adjusting garment 100, safely. In some instances, generally depending on the weight and dimensions of the wearer of the self-adjusting garment 100, there may be a need to shorten the length of loop 31 and the circumference and tightness of the strap 30 disposed around the wearer body. This may be easily achieved by wrapping loop 31 around strap 30 for as many times, for example, at least once, as necessitated by the wearer's dimensions. Thus, loop 31 shortens and strap 30 disposed around the wearer's body becomes less constricting.

In some embodiments, a securing mean, such as a safety pin 43 holds up the garment when worn by a wearer by pining a portion of the strap of new loop 31 to a clothing item, or to any harness-type garment, of the wearer. Thus, the wearer has a complete freedom of movement when he/she is not suspended via the use of the self-adjusting garment 100. Furthermore, in contrast to the functionality of currently available slings and harnesses, the present self-adjusting garment 100 allows a complete free movement of the wearer's upper body, including both arms and hands, so that the wearer is able to do useful work, as desired, while safely suspended. It is expressly contemplated herein, that the securing mean can be used also for attachment of the self-adjusting garment 100, and via the self-adjusting garment 100 the wearer, to other surfaces as desired. An example of other surface is a clothing item of a caregiver, especially when the self-adjusting garment 100 is used with babies or children.

A securing mean according to the present disclosure may be any mean that would releasably secure the self-adjusting garment 100 to a surface or an object. Non limited examples of suitable securing means include, without limitation, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro®), buttons, adhesive, grommets, ties, buckles, and/or magnets. The securing means 43 may be permanently or releasably attached to the new loop 31.

To accommodate for a wearer with a limited mobility who needs further assistance, in some embodiments of the self-adjusting garment 100, the fabric 10 has a slit, or an opening, 14 along its middle, length-wise. In some embodiments, the slit/opening 14 comprises a resealing mean, such as a zipper 15, which allows for the opening 14 to be resealed. In some other embodiments of the self-adjusting garment 100, when the fabric 10 is a synthetic or a non-woven, a soldering gun may be used to cut out a customized opening 14, or make any shape of opening 14 with a smooth edge as desired (not shown). The opening 14 may be of any suitable shape and size. The resealing means 15 may be any suitable means which allows for a non-permanent resealing of an opening. Examples of suitable resealing means include zippers, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners (e.g. Velcro®), buttons, adhesive, grommets, ties, buckles, and/or magnets

For the initial prototypes and product development for the patient lifting, a variety of fabrics (non limiting examples include denim, canvas, duck, netting and non-woven) may be used. In a preferable embodiment, the fabric 10 has the dimensions of about 30″ wide 6″×18″, and the straps 20 and 30 are 1.0″ wide webbing. 68″ long for 20, and a 52″ long for 30. Examples for materials suitable for the straps include, but are not limited to 400-pound rated Polypropylene, Nylon and Polyester. The preferred embodiment of the self-adjusting garment 100 as described above was tested for subjects weighing 75 to 300 pounds (waist size 25″ to 50″) successfully. An actual average patient lifting lasts only few seconds; however, the test was performed for ten minutes. It is expressly acknowledged herein that a self-adjusting garment 100 of any suitable size and proportions is within the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the self-adjusting garment 100 may be bigger or smaller in dimensions than the preferred embodiment disclosed herein. Moreover, the self-adjusting garment 100 can be easily tailored to custom fit any individual, much like any other garment. Custom fitting the self-adjusting garment 100, includes but is not limited to, selection of materials such as fabrics and securing/resealing means 43 and 15, sizing of the self-adjusting garment 100, shape of the optional opening 14, and shape of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric 10.

For example, custom-made, or simply smaller sized, self-adjusting garment 100 may be used to hold babies and children. Especially during emergency situations, such as a fire emergency descent.

Generally, but especially relevant in a situation when the self-adjusting garment 100 is used as an underwear for a bed-ridden patient, the self-adjusting garment 100 can be easily washed and dried, just like any other garments. When used as an outerwear, for example for hospital visits, it provides an ad-space around the waist, like a T-shirt does.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications to the self-adjusting garment 100 are within the scope of the present disclosure. It is intended by the claims which cover such modifications as would suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in this application, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “a subject” includes a plurality of subjects, unless the context clearly is to the contrary (e.g., a plurality of subjects), and so forth.

Throughout this specification and the claims, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and “comprising” are used in a non-exclusive sense, except where the context requires otherwise. Likewise, the term “include” and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items.

For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, sizes, dimensions, proportions, shapes, formulations, parameters, percentages, quantities, characteristics, and other numerical values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” even though the term “about” may not expressly appear with the value, amount or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter. For example, the term “about,” when referring to a value can be meant to encompass variations of, in some embodiments, ±100% in some embodiments ±50%, in some embodiments ±20%, in some embodiments ±10%, in some embodiments ±5%, in some embodiments ±1%, in some embodiments ±0.5%, and in some embodiments ±0.1% from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate to perform the disclosed methods or employ the disclosed compositions.

Further, the term “about” when used in connection with one or more numbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to refer to all such numbers, including all numbers in a range and modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers, e.g., whole integers, including fractions thereof, subsumed within that range (for example, the recitation of 1 to 5 includes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, as well as fractions thereof, e.g., 1.5, 2.25, 3.75, 4.1, and the like) and any range within that range.

Although the foregoing subject matter has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A self-adjusting garment for holding and lifting a wearer, the self-adjusting garment usable with a lifting/lowering device, the self-adjusting garment comprising: two weight bearing straps attached to an isosceles trapezoidal fabric; wherein a first strap of the two weight bearing straps is attached along the non-parallel sides of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric and forms a loop comprising the unattached mid-part of the first strap, the loop proximal to the narrower parallel side of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric; a second strap of the two weight bearing straps is attached along the long parallel side of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric, a portion of the second strap remains unattached and forms a loop off the long parallel side of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric; the self-adjusting garment can be worn by a wearer wherein the second strap encircles the mid-body of the wearer and the wide portion of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric is positioned at the back side of the wearer while the narrow portion of the isosceles trapezoidal fabric passes in between the wearer legs and positioned in the front side of the wearer's body, a portion of the second strap's loop can then be inserted though the first strap's loop, thus forming a new loop; and, wherein the new loop may be used for a releasable attachment with an attachment mean of a lifting/lowering device.
 2. The self-adjusting garment of claim 1, wherein, said isosceles trapezoidal fabric has one or more openings usable for discharge of bodily wastes of the wearer.
 3. The self-adjusting garment of claim 2, wherein said one or more openings is a slit along the middle, length-wise, of said isosceles trapezoidal fabric.
 4. The self-adjusting garment of claim 3, wherein said slit is resealable with a resealing mean selected from a zipper, or a hook-and-loop fastener, and wherein the resealing mean is attached to said isosceles trapezoidal fabric and surrounds said slit.
 5. The self-adjusting garment of claim 2, wherein the self-adjusting garment comprises a mean of releasably holding up the new loop when the wearer is not being lifted/lowered.
 6. The adjustable of claim 5, wherein said mean of releasably holding up the new loop is a safety pin attachable to the wearer's clothing.
 7. The self-adjusting garment of claim 4, wherein the self-adjusting garment comprises a mean of releasably holding up the new loop when the wearer is not being lifted/lowered.
 8. The adjustable of claim 7, wherein said mean of releasably holding up the new loop is a safety pin attachable to the wearer's clothing. 